M4400 Shipped

I so agree. What were they thinking! Rippled plastic doesn't sound so good now. At all! Maybe John can tell us the part number for his E6400 cover so I can do it myself? Doesn't sound like those clowns at Dell can change the cover for an individual order no?

 

Thanks cpaek72. That's my hunch... that my 9cell battery is causing my delay.

 

Is this even possible? Would Dell be nice enough to give a custom back from another laptop?

 

Are you sure it's plastic, because Dell specs say otherwise (look underneath chassis section):

http://www.dell.com/content/product...station_precision_m4400?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

 

"Magnesium Alloy LCD back and Base" doesn't necessarily mean the exterior is metal, just that the internal chassis is.

Besides, he's actually got the laptop in his hands. I think he'd be able to discern what his laptop is made out of...

 

Well you can bet money they won't "give" it to you, but hell, I'd be willing to pay an extra 20-50 to get the alloy exterior

I've asked in a few M4400 threads and at least two people who have received their M4400 have replied the affirmative. I swear they messed things up. Making plastic look like metal and metal look like... less metal. Crazy Dell. I bet they got a big hat full of design "ideas" and just pick them out randomly!

 

The best test for the material type is whether it feels cold when the computer is off and has been somewhere cool. A corrugated metal back might be more flexible but have better overall strength with less weight than a flat metal sheet such as in the E series.

John

 

the lcd lid on the M and E series on the latitude and precision lines are magnesium alloy. i've seen both. they are not plastic.

 

OK. You've seen, but thing is, he owns one. Who to believe... By the way, we are talking about the exterior (what you can feel). I'm sure inside they have the mag alloy chassis but that isn't what we are discussing. If we can get a few more confirmations of the LCD back cover material from more owners that would be great, but for now I'll stick with cpaek72's opinion of this.

I don't know, I'm sure there will be more people commenting on this aspect soon some more. Personally I don't feel that it was worth forking out 2 and a half grand for plastic, when its lower priced sister is metal. Not to be hating Latitude owners, but if anything, the premium Precisions should have deserved that option exclusively or both business lines if they had any marketting sense. I know it's probably a moot point for most owners and they don't care because a lcd back is just that and doesn't affect the workings, but when you're paying that much it becomes a bit hard to justify what they did. They should treat their business buyers a bit better. How would you like to use plastic wine glasses on a business or first class airflight? It's about feeling classy, not just looking it.

 

i've seen it and i've taken a few apart. i'm very familiar with dell notebooks.

the silver paint job the the lid may make it feel like plastic cuz its very very slightly textured (think fine sandpaper).

but trust me, it's magnesium alloy.